The Campaign Craze
Buffy, Star Trek, Roswell... The Sentinel? When fandoms attack.
      by Rachel Hyland

But with so many to choose from, which one do I support? you wonder. Hmmm. Good question. How about:

Brimstone's Peter Horton.

1. Save Brimstone
What is it? The tale of a bounty hunter for Satan -- it was cool.
Who's in it? Peter Horton (who's hot, even if he was on thirtysomething), Lori Petty (Tank Girl), John Glover (as Satan.)
Why save it? It was cool.
How? Print ad in Variety, a petition, a letter-writing campaign, a "Save Brimstone" Fund.
Status: Canceled
Episodes: 12

2. Save Crusade
What is it? The continuation of Babylon 5, an attempt to cure humanity of a species-threatening plague -- but sexy.
Who's in it? Gary Cole, and who cares who else?
Why save it? Its Babylon 5 pedigree, its great acting, plots, direction, sets, dialogue, lighting, catering department...
How? Write to everyone you can think of, and then threaten to blow up TNT.
Status: Canceled
Episodes: 13

3. Save Dark Skies
What is it? X-Files copycat set in the Sixties.
Who's in it? Eric Close (Now and Again), Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Voyager.)
Why save it? Absolutely no reason whatsoever.
How? According to Co-Creator and Executive Producer Bryce Zabel, "write the letters and make the calls."
Status: Canceled
Episodes: 20

"Ummm... hold on, tomorrow's newspaper says I'm getting canceled!" Early Edition's Kyle Chandler.

4. Save Early Edition
What is it? A guy called Gary gets tomorrow's paper, leading him to help people and make a quick buck on the side by betting on the horses.
Who's in it? Kyle Chandler. Formerly: Fisher Stevens (Short Circuit) as The Wacky Sidekick and Kristy Swanson (ex-Buffy.)
Why save it? Though not yet canceled, Early Edition has not been renewed by CBS for next season -- and that's okay.
How? Write to CBS! Print out the EE Flyer and post in public areas! Tell your family!
Status: Pending
Seasons: 4

5. Save Earth 2
What is it? Castaways on a distant planet learn about survival, indigenous cultures and not bathing.
Who's in it? Debrah Farentino, Antonio Sabato Jr, Clancy Brown, Jessica Steen.
Why Save it? Antonio Sabato Jr, baby!
How? Er...
Status: Canceled
Episodes: 21

6. Save Forever Knight
What is it? Vampire detective on a quest to restore his humanity -- no, not that one.
Who's in it? Geraint Wyn Davies, John Kapelos, Catherine Disher, dopey third season blonde chick.
Why Save it? To make the final slaughter-of-the-innocents episode be all a dream.
How? Give money, send money, spend money... it's all about money. Oh, and write letters!
Status: Canceled
Seasons: 3

The Pretender: Everybody In Leather.

7. Save Harsh Realm
What is it? Cool comic turned into Matrix-wannabe.
Who's in it? Scott Bairstow, D.B. Sweeney, Samantha Mathis.
Why Save it? Scott Bairstow, D.B. Sweeney, Samantha Mathis.
How? Sign the petition, e-mail, write to Fox; you know how effective that is.
Status: It's on, um, it's on FX
Episodes: 3 on Fox, the remainder to its cohort in cable

8. Save The Pretender
What is it? Genius Jarod searches for the truth, his past, and a decent hairdresser while escaping the clutches of Miss Parker, who could obviously direct him to one.
Who's in it? Michael T. Weiss, and, in an odd coincidence, Andrea Parker.
Why Save it? The chemistry between Jarod and the Miss Parker is palpable, and worth watching -- really.
How? Send a Pez dispenser (Jarod's candy of choice) to NBC, before May 10... oh, dear.
Status: Pending
Seasons: 4

Roswell fans make WB execs crave antacids.

9. Save Roswell
What is it? Alien kids in New Mexico, their lives, loves and hairstyles.
Who's in it? Jason Behr, Brendan Fehr, Shiri Appleby, other beautiful young people.
Why Save it? Pleading the fifth.
How? Write to people, send the WB Tabasco sauce, post on Message Boards, pay for ads in Variety.
Status: Pending
Seasons: .75

10. Save The Sentinel
What is it? Sense-enhanced cop who wears a lot of plaid shirts.
Who's in it? People.
Why Save it? ...
How? Whatever they did, it worked, didn't it?
Status: Resurrected
Seasons: 3

Strange World: Peter Wingfield was going to be in this show. Damn you, ABC. Damn you all to hell.

11. Save Strange World
What is it? Terminally ill guy gets a temporary miracle cure and goes on wacky terminally-ill adventures.
Who's in it? Other people.
Why Save it? It deserved a better chance -- every show deserves a better chance.
How? Write to ABC some more.
Status: Canceled
Episodes: 3

Of course, these are not the only campaigns that the militant genre fan can join to protest the shabby treatment of their favourite shows. There are all of those characters that need saving, after all. Richie. Pendrell. Dax. Doyle. All killed in their prime with wanton unconcern. When Joss Whedon had the Angel character of Doyle killed, and the protests against this callous decision rang throughout the Internet. The 11th Hour's beloved zero, webmaster to the stars, led the charge at her site, GlennQuinn.com, but even she, despite her attachment to that adorable half-Demon lad, has regretfully had to abandon her efforts. Not for want of support, but for want of something even more vital to a fan campaign: hope.

A genre fan does not get to be a genre fan without a certain knack for the suspension of disbelief. But at some point it must be tempered with reality, and the reality is that it is highly unlikely any of these campaigns will succeed -- and even if they do, then not for long. Do fans of The Sentinel believe that having convinced the SciFi Channel to feed their craving for the cop in the plaid, they will never again have to worry about the show's demise? Do Star Trek fans believe that, having seen Captain Hikaru Sulu in command of the Excelsior only twice in more than a decade, all Trek fans everywhere will embrace his return as though it were the coming of the prodigal? Do Roswell fans believe that inundating a television company with a light and spicy accompaniment to their meals will cause said company to appreciate their low-rating show in a whole new light? Well, probably. But is that actually the case? Probably not. The fact is that in these bottom-line, demographic-focused, overnight-success hungry times, most of the marginal, kooky, and actually interesting shows on TV are not going to make the long-term grade. Most network decisions with regard to the fate of a show, or of its copyright infringing fans, once made, are rarely, if ever, reversible.

Still... that wouldn't have stopped Bjo Trimble. The question is: should it have?

We welcome your comments on The 11th Hour and this feature. Please send letters to: letters@the11thhour.com

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